Piston



May 30, 1944. o. STARR PISTON Filed July 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN'I'OR.

OschR L. $TARR Bi/Z z:

ATTORNEY.

May 30, 1944.

O. L. STARR PISTON Filed July- 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 05cm: L. STARR I BY Q 7 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT. orrics rrsron Oscar L. Starr,

Application July 8,

2 Claims.

' for compression ignition engines (Diesel engines) of the type having an ber, such as a precombustionchamber, the top auxiliary combustion chamor crown of the piston is frequently formed with a combustion crater which provides part of the main combustion chamber of the engine. Partially ignited iuel and hot air from the auxiliary combustion chamber pass into such crater during the combustion phase; and due to completion of combustion in the crater, it becomes hotter than the remainder oi the piston crown. In order to provide for equal distribution of heat from the combustion crater to the periphery oi the piston and thereby obviate distortion oi the crown which results in the piston rings and their seating grooves becoming distorted or misalined with respect to the cylinder wall, thereby adversely efiecting sealing relationship of such rings in their seating grooves and with the eviinder wall, it is desirable that the crater be dis-' posed in the crown concentric with the axis of the piston.

However, this necessitates placing the auxiliary combustion chamber directly over the axis of the piston which if done, does not provide suflicient room in the head of the engine, for proper positloning oi the intake and exhaust valves, and adequate cooling water Jacket space therefor. Consequently, to provide ample room for the valves and suificient cooling jacket space in the head of the engine, the auxiliary combustion chamber is generally inclined and offset to one side with respect to the axis of the piston; and this requires that the combustion timber in the crown of the piston be eccentrically disposed or onset with respect to the axis of the piston.

Heretoiore, with such oflset combustion crater, the wall of the crown under the craterwas made of uniform thickness; and, as a result, the heat flowed evenly through such wall causing the peripheral part oi the piston closest to the crater to become hotter than the opposite peripheral part of the piston. uch I ripheral portion of the piston in which the piston rings are mounted, commonly designatedas the ring belt portion of the piston; and because' oi the dlflerence in temperature in such peripheral parts are in the Mission San Jose, Cali! ascignor to Caterpillar Tractor 00., San Leandr a corporation or California 0, Call! 1940, Serial No. 344,304

('01. zoo -44) parts, the ring belt portion and the crown of the piston would warp or bow unequally. As a resuit, the top compression ring and its seatin groove, because they are nearest the crown, and sometimes other rings and their seating grooves, if the warping were bad, even though in proper alinement with respect to the cylinder wall and in proper sealing relationship when the piston was cold, would be moved out of proper sealing relationship with respect to each other and out of alinement with respect to the cylinder wall when the piston was hot; and a poor seal of the ring in its groove and with would result, causing loss of compression or blow-by.

Another problem in connection with efficient sealing oi a piston ring with the cylinder wall, and also in the seating groove therefor, results irom the tact that for dissipating heat rapidly from the piston, which is particularly desirable in compression ignition engines because they opcrate under relatively high maximum temperatures, it is advantageous to have the piston of metal, suchas aluminum, which has relatively high heat conductivity. aluminum, mssesses the additional advantage oi imparting lightness to the piston. Aluminum isrelatively soft compared to cast iron, especially at operating temperatures of a piston crown; the latter material being generally employed for piston rings. As a result, when a piston ring is seated in a ring groove formed directly in an aluminum piston body, it readily wears the seat which results in play and consequently loss or sealing eficicncy with the cylinder wall, and also with its seating groove. This is particularly dis= advantageous with respect to the top compression ring of the piston, which in order to prevent blow-b should maintain a good seal in its seat mg groove and with the cylinder wall at all times. w invention is desimed to overcome the above-mentioned problems, and has as its objects, among others, the provision of an improved piston construction; in which a crown having an offset combustion crater therein is so shaped as to distribute or dissipate heat evenly or uniformly w the periphery oi the piston; means independent of a piston body and of relatively hard material is employed to provide a wear resistant. seat for a piston ring and which is so mounted in the piston body as to have a certain degree oi ireedom of movement so as not to follow distortions of the piston body; and in which such 55 means is yet firmly held in the piston body.

the cylinder wall Also, a metal such as Other objects of my invention will become apsistant ring groove construction, I'provide it for otherwise molecularly secured -is removably but flrmly'cattached' to the piston parent from the following description thereof.

In general, the preferred piston of my inxention is provided with a spherical combustion crater in the crown thereo which is oilset with respect to the axis of the piston to receive hot air and partially ignited fuel which are discharged from an auxiliary combustion chamber the head of an engine, also oflset with respect to the axis of the piston, for the reasons previously explained. As a result of the ofiset or eccentric location of the crater in thepiston crown, one peripheral part of the piston is closer to the crater than the opposite peripheral part of the piston; and as a result, the closest peripheral part tends to become hotter than the oposite peripheral part. To cooperate in equalizing flow of heat to the periphery of the piston, so as to have the entire periphery of the piston adjacent the crown of substantially equal temperature and thereby minimize distortion of the crown portion of the piston when it expands or contracts resulting from change in temperature, the sectional thickness of the wall of the crown is tapered between the peripheral part of the piston closest to the combustion crater and the peripheral part opposite thereto, with the narrow portion of such wall thickness adjacent the peripheral part of the piston closest to the crater.

The taper or non-uniform thickness of the wall of the crown is accomplished by having the under-surface of the wall of the crown spherically shaped and concentrically arranged with respect to the axis of the piston, to thereby be symmetrical with respect to such axis. The thickness of the piston wall adjacent the periphery of such under-surface to the periphery of the piston is made substantially the same all the way around,

freedom of movement by virtue of its non-mm lecular union with the piston body which is advantageous because the band will not follow all piston distortions resulting from changes in temperature thereof; and this cooperates in maintaining proper seating of a piston ring in the band groove therefor and also alinernent of such piston .ring with respect to a cylinder wall.

For retaining the ring groove band on the body of the piston, a securing ring may be shrunk on such body over the band, but I prefer to employ a i of the piston of and the distance between the periphery of the to restrict or throttle the flow of heat to that peripheral part of the piston closest to the combustion crater and unequal bowing of the top of the piston is substantially eliminated to thus minimize distortion of each of th piston rings froma transverse plane at a right angle to the axis or the piston; particularly the top compression ring which is blow-by. Hence, sealing efliciency of the rings with the cylinder wall and in their seating grooves is enhanced.

The piston body proper is preferably of a light metal of high heat conductivity. such-as aluminum, for the reasons previously explained; and to preclude a harder metal piston ring from wearing into the softer body or the piston and thereby develop excessive play which would destroy the sealing efliciency of the piston ring in its seating groove and with respect to the cylinder wall, I provide an independent hard metal wear reband for mounting of the piston ring. Such band may be provided for all or the upper piston rings but in the preferred only the top compression piston ring which is thering located closest, to the crown and consequently subject to greatest distortion. Preferably, the ring groove band is free or molecular union with the body of the piston as it is not cast integral therewith or to such body, but

body by suitable securing means? Although it is most important for minimizing piston firmly held, it has a'cer'tain limited degree of to threaded securing ring having a screw connection with the reripheral part of the piston crown, as this allows application of correct degree of pressure on the ring groove band for holding it.

Reference is now made to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the piston of my invention mounted in an engine; portions of the head of such engine being shown schematically.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view my invention, illustrating the mouiting of the ring groove band.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the piston of my invention.

Fi 4 is a vertical sectional elevation of such piston; with the section taken in a plane indi cated by line 4- 3 in Fig. 3. v

Fi 5 is an underneath sectional elevation of the crown portion of the piston of my invention, taken in planes indicated by line 55 in 221g. 3.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the piston taken in a plane indicated by line tin Fig. 3. a

Fig. 7 is ,a vertical sectional elevation of a modified form of piston construction With particular reference to Figs. 1 and 6, the piston of my invention comprises body 2, preferably of a metal having a relatively high heat conductivity such as aluminum, and which is formed with combustion crater 3 in the crown thereof, in the form of a segment of a. sphere. Such spherically shaped crater is ofiset or eccentrically disposed with respect to the piston axis A; and by virtue ofits ofiset relationship the piston is particularly adapted for employment in a compression ignition engine having an auxiliary combustion chamber in the form of precombustion chamber 4i which is inclined along an axis offset with respect to the axis A of the piston, to allow room for valves d and adequate cooling jacket space in the head 7 of the engine. During the combustion phase, fuel is injected into precombustion chamber 4i fron'i orifice 8 of fuel injectionnozzle 9; and from the precombustion chamber partially ignited fuel and hot combustion air are discharged through orifice it into combustion crater 3. In Fig. shown in cylinder I2 01 the engine, which is preferably in the form of a removable liner.

Because of the ofiset relationship of combustion crater 3, it will be apparent from Figs. 1, 3 and 6 that such crater lies closer to peripheral part It of the piston'than to the opposite peripheral part I. Hence, such peripheral part i3 tends to become hotter when subjected to the operating temperatures of the engine, and consequently tends to expand more which would result in uneven movement of the piston ring mounting or peripheral belt portion It of'the particularlyv the peripheral portion adjacent the top compression ring it which is closest to the crown. To equalize the flow of heat and thereby avoid 1, the piston is ton crown,

such piston a special the piston operating temperat the above-described objectionable feature, the wall l3 of the 'pistoncrown underneath combustion crater 3 is shaped to throttle or choke thestantially symmetrical with respect to axis A of the piston. Such under surface 13 is substantially spherical, the radius of curvature of which is from a center on nated by point P. The radius of curvature of the spherical combustion chamber 3 is from a center designated by point P offset with respect to the axis of the piston. Consequently, wall I8 is tapered between the peripheral parts l3 and H of the piston, with the narrow portion 21 of wall l3 adjacent peripheral part l3 which tends to become hottest. As a result, flow of heat is choked or throttled to such peripheral part l3 to cooperate in equalizing flow of heat. The thickness of narrow .portion of wall i3 and the degree of taper of wall II will determine the extent to which such narrow portion throttles the flow of heat. By choosing the proper vertical and transverse, distances between points P and P, the correctdegree of taper of wall i3 and the proper thickness of narrow. wall portion 2i, may be readilyobtained for any given size piston. Because of the substantially symmetrical shape of the under-surface IQ of thewall Id of the pisa substantially uniform wall thickness T obtains from adjacent the periphery of under-surface 19 to the peripheryof the piston; and the periphery of. under-surface I9 is sub-' stantially the same distance D all the way around, from the top surface of l'nis' is also important equal expansion andcontractionof the peripheral portion of the piston adjacent the crown, to obviate distortion. p.

- The described shape of" the crown wall l8 of the piston may be employedalone in any type of piston having an offset combustion crater in its crown, and made of any suitable material, to perform the described function of equalizing flow of heat tominimizedistortion. However,

since the preferred piston in which my invention is employed is made of aluminum, forthe reasons previously explained, in which harder metal piston rings would wear in their seating grooves, and thus develop-play with consequent loss of sealing efficiency, I preferably also employ in mounting for at least the important top compression ring to obviate such development of play and cooperate with the special crown wall construction of my invention in maintaining; proper alinement thereof with respect to the cylinderwall.

For this purpose, the

is formed with peripheral recess 30 which provides peripheral shoulder 3| for supporting an independent one piece or integral, unbroken piston ri s groove band 32 in recess 33. and which fits with slight radial clearance 32' at its inside; ,the inside radial clearance precluding bindingof the band against the body of the piston when the parts of the piston expand under s to whichthe'piston may be subjected. As a result, such arrangement cooperates in maintaining emcacious sealing relationship of the piston ring i1. seated in peripheral ring groove 33 formed in the band. Such band 32 is made of relatively hard metal. such as cast iron, to

the axis of the piston deslg- I the crown of the piston. in obtaining substantial top peripheral portion of such as aluminum, having a ring is the important factor.

provide a wear resistant seat .75

engine.

for the piston ring in ring groove 33. Band 32 does not serve in the capacity of a packing or as such function 18 accomplished sealing r by piston ring i1; and in thisconnection, it will be noted that because the band 32 is integral and unbroken, it is non-elastic radially. Fur

'thermore, the peripheral face of the band 32 does not project substantially beyond the peripheral face of the piston body but is substantially coextensive with such piston body face. Preferably, the under surface 34 of suchband and shoulder 3| lie angle to the axis of the piston and the upper surface 36 of the band is inclined to provide a compensating feature, which are described more fully, and claimed in my co-pending application Serial-Number 344,306, filed July 8, 1940, entitled Fitting of members." Also, the top side of piston ringgroove 33 in band 32 is preferably formed with'an annular blow-by minimizing channel 33, the purpose of which is more fully described, and claimed in my co-pending application Serial Number 344,305, filed July a, 1940, entitled Piston construction.

1 preferably firmly retain ring groove band 32 in positionby means of internally threaded securing ring or nut 39 of any suitable material, screw connection in recess 33 with body 2 of the piston. By turning securing ring 39 the correct number of turns. the proper degree of pressure maybe applied to hold or clamp ring groove ing ring 39-after it is once screwed onto the piston the proper extent, I preferably provide.

diametrically roppositetapered pins '4! (ragga which pass transversely sure directlyover the outer peripheral portion of ring groove band 32, and hence obviate pinching of the piston ring which would result in undesirable distortion thereof.

- Since ring groove band 32 is will resist wear resulting from to move a piston ring therein, which forces always obtain during operation of a piston in an of hard metal, it

and its seating groove 33 is minimized; and the piston ring will not only remain in good sealing relationship'with its groove but it will also. be maintained in proper sealing alinement with respect to the cylinder may be 'made of sufficient depth to support more than one piston ring, but I find that for minimizing blow-by in a cylinder, the top compression ferred construction, I only employ the independent ring groove band 32 for the top compression ring H which is mounted therein.

It is to be noted from the-preceding description that although. ring groove band 32 is rigidly andflrnfly held in position, it is free of molecular union with the body of the piston since it is not attached to. such body or otherwise molecularly secured thereto by welding or other means. As a result, the band tends to have a certain lim-' ited degree of freedom of movement. which is enhanced by the inside radial clearance "space in a plane extending at a right band 32 firmly in position; and because ofsuch firm holding of the band, .it cannot rotate about the axis" of the pis-" ton. To prevent rotational movement' of securthrough suitable aper-i tures formed in thesecuring ring and into rej-j cesses l2 formedln'the body "of the'piston." only forces which tend Hence, play between, the piston ring wall. Ring groove band 32 Hence in the pre- 5 piston ring in the 1 resulting from Such limited freedom of movement is desirable because the .band will not follow all distortions of the piston crown; and this feature alone helps to maintain proper alinement of a band, with respect to a cylinder wall, and also proper sealing of such ring in its seating groove. Consequently, the inde-. pendent ring groove band, irrespective of whether it is of harder material than a piston ring adaptpreferred shape of ring groove band 32 and the blow-by minimizing channel 38 theregroove band 44, will also provide the advantage the limited freedom of movement of the band.

he special constructional mounting of my in- T vention for piston rings, may be employed in any OSCAR L. STARR. 

